Court set for flood of divorced cases

February 1997

Staff at Wexford Circuit Court office are bracing themselves for an influx of divorce applications, following the introduction last Thursday of the relevant legislation.

Already hard-pressed to cope, with an increased workload, Circuit Court staff are not looking forward to the additional pressure the divorce provisions will bring.

There has been a massive expansion in civil litigation cases generally in recent years, added to a widening of the Circuit Court jurisdiction five years ago and the appointment of extra judges, with a resulting increase in administrative and legal requirements.

Anticipating a big hike in the workload as a result of the divorce legislation, the Wexford office, in common with other centres around the country, has applied to the Department of Justice for extra personnel.

It is understood that the processing requirements of divorce applications will be very much grounded in computer work and paper work, with lengthy applying and defending affidavits having to be thoroughly checked, and application particulars having to be logged in cause books.

In addition to the preparatory work and the issuing of correspondence to both parties in a divorce application, staff will have to record haring details and process decisions.

It is difficult however to predict just how many initial applications for divorce will be made in Co. Wexford. While there is a long list of separated couples on the court’s family law list, many of them may not wish to officially file for divorce.